KEY POINTS:
As the first rocks fell, Michael Liengme turned to help the girl who thought of him as her big brother.
Thirteen-year-old Michael was playing in Pohangina River with 8-year-old Keryn Langley and her brother Callum, 10.
An emotional Neil Langley, speaking publicly yesterday for the first time about the massive cliff collapse that killed his two children and Michael, recalled: "At that moment, he had been helping Keryn through some deeper water.
"She wasn't uncomfortable with the depth but had complained that it was cold. I have a vision of him turning to reach her and help her, even as they were hit."
Michael's mother, Margie Liengme, said of her son: "He cared for them. He looked after Keryn. When that rock fell, he went back for Keryn. That's just who he was. He saw other people first."
Duncan Liengme described his son as a selfless young man who had a zest for life.
"We used to wonder where his battery compartment was so we could slow him down."
Michael not only had a love of sports and the outdoors, but he was also a "sponge for knowledge".
"His librarian at school limited him to two books and he'd say, 'That's the first few days of the holidays. I need some more'."
He was also a typical teenager in that he watched television, left shoes around the house and loved to sleep in.
"He used to gripe about doing the odd chore, as all teenagers do, and he'd say, 'That's not fair', and unfortunately I'd have to say to him, 'Life's not fair, buddy, get used to it,' and those words are coming back to me now," Mr Liengme said.
"His passing is a tragedy. It was a privilege for us to be part of his life. We'll miss him, and we love him greatly, and he loved us."
The grieving parents - the Liengmes and Mr Langley and his wife Vivien - had not wanted to discuss the tragedy that unfolded in the Totara Reserve, 30km from Palmerston North, last Friday, but yesterday spoke of the events to convey the relationship between the families and the children.
The parents are university friends who all did their teaching diplomas together in South Africa.
They are part of a single, greater family and spend holidays together, on camping, skiing or sailing trips.
Mr Langley said Callum - whose Zulu name means the Quiet One - was curious and inquisitive with a passion for Lego.
His latest creation will be buried with him at Friday's joint funeral.
His bedtime reading material was a science encyclopedia. "His aunt was amazed when he was less than 2 years old, we had rearranged things on the carpet in his bedroom and he said, 'There's an indentation'."
Mr Langley said Callum played touch rugby, hockey - though he wasn't the most gifted player, "taking after his father" - and chess.
"Keryn was a mischievous monkey, a beautiful little girl. Where Callum was shy and at peace with his own company, Keryn loved company."
She was an emotional and loving girl and a talented young ballet dancer. She loved planting in the garden, baking, and animals, and dreamed of becoming a vet. "She embraced life, she had many friends, she was sensitive to people's emotional needs," Mr Langley said.
"She was always writing us love notes. We started to collect those and will be putting those into her memory book."
Mr Liengme said his 10-year-old son Kevin, who survived the collapse with minor injuries, was shocked but coping with the loss of his brother and friends.
The boys were a common sight going "hell for leather" on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu.
The families have been inundated with best wishes and gifts - so much so that their homes could be turned into a florist's.
"We've had absolute strangers phoning us, neighbours up the road have been sending cards, the extent of it has been wonderful," Mr Langley said.
"We want to let New Zealand know to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and that this tragedy has in no way affected our love for our new country. If anything, it's left us in awe of this country and how well it takes care of its people."
* The public can make donations to a trust set up for the families - the Langley and Liengme Trust - at any Westpac branch.
